[alatar]

Originally Posted by bilbo_baggins

And it seemed as though no one really liked Mordor, Harad, or Rhun.

One wonders why that could have been... And actually, though I don't remember the exact text, but doesn't either Sam or Frodo show a little sympathy to the Haradrim (or whichever army they see) as one them wonders if the person were truly evil or just conscripted or lied to or something?

I can understand that, alatar, knowing your stated background. But do you see the implicit inference that Tolkien has made? He has shown such a need for the existence of spirits you must suspend your disbelief for a moment. (Even if I think your belief wrong, it must be temporarily suspended anyway)

I'm not sure exactly about the "need' for spirits but I accept them as an integral part of his (and seemingly our) world. Is there a human culture that does not show 'some' acknowledgement to a spirit world, whether the spirits be personal or impersonal 'forces?'

And you might be surprised regarding my stated background. My point is that, though I am somewhat knowledgeable (at least in my mind ) in many religions and having a more-than-general understanding of Christianity, I did not see the Virgin Mary as Elbereth Gilthoniel.

The Vala and Maia are, in Tolkien's world, real. And they aren't native to Middle-Earth. I think an analogous statement from the real world would be "Not of this world."

To me what doesn't map out exactly is whereas the Elves had direct contact with the Valar and Maia - and even saw them as cousins - we do not have the same intermediary group. In Tolkien's world one has Iluvatar, Valar, Maia, Elves then humans. In a Christian world (which is what I assume we are discussing) one has the triune God, the arch-angels and angels then humans. And when humans encountered the Maia (at least in the case of the Istari), they did not see them as 'messengers of God' nor as spirit beings. Any thoughts?